March 3, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nashville, TN – The board of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) and members of the Connectional Table (CT) met last week to consider the recommendations for the 2017-2020 general Church budget. The GCFA board approved the proposed budget of $611 million, reaffirming the budget proposal agreed upon by both GCFA and CT in May 2015. The members of CT met by conference call on February 29 and also approved the budget by majority vote.
“This budget reflects a hopeful, reasonable proposal of the resources needed to engage in the mission and ministries around the world,” said Bishop Bruce Ough, chair of the Connectional Table. “We need to take a bold move to fund programs and priorities that focus on church vitality. This budget reflects the faith we have in our leaders to continue the adaptive work in increasing vital congregations across our connection.”
The decisions of both bodies reaffirm that the proposed budget fits the missional needs of the denomination in the next quadrennium. Though there have been recommendations to revise the budget based on new information provided by the Economic Advisory Committee (EAC) that considered several economic factors, the bodies who hold responsibility for recommending the budget to General Conference have voted to keep the current recommendation.
Bishop Michael Coyner, president of GCFA said, “The Budget Leadership Team, composed of members of GCFA and CT, has been in a multi-year process to consider the many factors affecting the final budget recommendations. The actions of the GCFA Board and CT membership reaffirm the work of the Team and voted to keep the recommendation.”
The details of the budget are included in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate (ADCA), volume 3 and made available to any member of The United Methodist Church at www.cokesbury.com.
###
The General Council on Finance and Administration coordinates and administers financial resources, safeguards the legal interests and rights of the Church, and provides administrative resources to enable the fulfillment of the mission of The United Methodist Church. www.gcfa.org
The Connectional Table is where leaders of The United Methodist Church discern and articulate the vision for the church and where ministry and money are brought to the same table to coordinate the mission, ministries and resources of the church. www.umc.org/connectionaltable
Contact:
GCFA - Sharon Dean, 615.369.2336
CT - Meredith Hoxie Schol, 773.714.1517